Agent Boras happy to return to alma mater

STOCKTON - Scott Boras, whose reputation as a tough negotiator has drawn fans and detractors, showed his sentimental side at Pacific's Baseball Community Night on Thursday at Brookside Country Club.

Jagdip Dhillon

STOCKTON - Scott Boras, whose reputation as a tough negotiator has drawn fans and detractors, showed his sentimental side at Pacific's Baseball Community Night on Thursday at Brookside Country Club.

Boras, widely regarded as the top player agent in baseball, returned to Stockton to help the program he played for in the 1970s. Boras was an outfielder for the Tigers from 1972-74 and spent four seasons in the minor leagues. But his biggest mark in the game has been as a representative for some of Major League Baseball's top stars.

The Scott Boras Corp., based in Newport Beach, has a roster of about 175 clients, including some of the game's highest-paid players like Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Barry Zito and Matt Holliday.

Pacific coach Ed Sprague Jr., an 11-year major leaguer and one-time all-star, was part of Boras' stable during his playing career. Sprague and Boras have developed a close friendship since Sprague became the Tigers' coach in 2004. When Sprague asked Boras to speak at Thursday's fundraising dinner, Boras gladly accepted.

"Pacific has done a lot for me in my life," said Boras, 57. "They gave me a scholarship here and it changed my life. I'm very grateful to the university and the baseball program."

Boras was born and raised in Elk Grove and earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Pacific in 1977 and his law degree from Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in 1982. He was elected to the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.

In 1983, Boras negotiated one of baseball's largest contracts, $7.5 million for pitcher Bill Caudill, and an agent's career was born.

Boras said playing baseball allowed him to have a deeper understanding of what his clients would want and need.

"If I hadn't played college and professional baseball, I wouldn't be able to help my clients as much as I can," Boras said. "It's given me the ability to help develop players and mentor them."

Boras has negotiated record-breaking contracts for several of his players. In an era of escalating salaries, Boras has been portrayed by some as the embodiment of greed in professional sports. There even is a Web site - i-hate-scott-boras.com - that tracks Boras' negotiations. Others laud his ability to get the most for his clients.

Boras said criticism comes with the territory.

"Representing baseball players is far from a popularity contest," Boras said. "It's a very hard thing to explain to the fans that when revenues of the game go up exponentially, the product that creates those revenues are the baseball players.

"It's a process of billionaires vs. millionaires, and there's not a lot of sympathy on either side."

Sprague said Boras' reputation among players is far different from what the public might think about him.

"The one thing people don't get is how much he cares about his players, and that's what drives what he does," Sprague said. "A lot of things get written about his ego, but with him, it's all about his clients."